Device for retaining shape of shoe

ABSTRACT

A device for retaining the shape of a shoe includes a tapering base member having an arch cross section and a shoe expansion member defining a cavity removably receiving the base member therein. The base member has opposite side walls and an arcuated top wall defining a groove in which a stair-like configuration is formed, having a first number of steps. The side walls of the base member each form first serration. The shoe expansion member has a bottom in which the cavity is defined and a top side configured to closely fit into a shoe for retaining the shape of the shoe. The cavity is defined by opposite side walls and a top wall. The top wall of the cavity has a stair-like structure having a second number of steps. The side walls of the cavity form second serration. The stair-like structure of the cavity is at least partially engageable with and supported by the stair-like configuration of the top wall of the base member. The second serrations are engageable with the first serrations for securely fixing the shoe expansion member with respect to the base member. An additional shoe expansion member may be selectively included. The additional shoe expansion member may be of different sizes and shapes for replacing the original shoe expansion member to be fit for shoes of different sizes and shapes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a device for retainingthe shape of a shoe in transportation and storage, and in particular toan adjustable device that is suitable for retaining the shapes of shoesof different sizes and shapes.

[0003] 2. The Related Art

[0004] Devices for retaining the shape of a shoe are known. Examples arelasts and shoe trees. The conventional lasts and shoe trees are designedfor a particular size of shoe. Thus, for each size of shoe, a particularlast or shoe tree is required in retaining the shape thereof intransportation and storage. Another way for retaining the shape of ashoe is to forcibly stuff a flexible material into the shoe, such aspaper. This, however, makes the shoe not attractive to the generalconsumers

[0005]FIG. 1 of the attached drawings shows a conventional device forretaining the shape of a shoe. A block 10 that has a shape correspondingto the shape of a shoe 11 is fit into the shoe 11 for retaining theshape of the shoe 11. The block 10 is in general not adjustable. Thus,the conventional device is made for a particular size of shoes anddifferent blocks having different sizes are required for shoes ofdifferent sizes.

[0006] Thus, it is desired to have a device for retaining shapes ofshoes of different sizes and shapes to overcome the above-discussedproblem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a device foradjustably retaining the shapes of shoes of different sizes and shapes.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a devicefor retaining the shape of a shoe, wherein the device comprises a fixedbase member and a replaceable shoe expansion member removably mounted tothe base member, the replaceable member being selectively replaced by adifferent one of different size or shape for retaining the shape of ashoe having different size or shape.

[0009] To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the presentinvention, there is provided a device for retaining the shape of a shoecomprising a tapering base member having an arch cross section and ashoe expansion member defining a cavity removably receiving the basemember therein. The base member has opposite side walls and an arcuatedtop wall defining a groove in which a stair-like configuration isformed, having a first number of steps. The side walls of the basemember each form first serration. The shoe expansion member has a bottomin which the cavity is defined and a top side configured to closely fitinto a shoe for retaining the shape of the shoe. The cavity is definedby opposite side walls and a top wall. The top wall of the cavity has astair-like structure having a second number of steps. The side walls ofthe cavity form second serration. The stair-like structure of the cavityis at least partially engageable with and supported by the stair-likeconfiguration of the top wall of the base member. The second serrationsare engageable with the first serrations for securely fixing the shoeexpansion member with respect to the base member. An additional shoeexpansion member may be selectively included. The additional shoeexpansion member may be of different sizes and shapes for replacing theoriginal shoe expansion member to be fit for shoes of different sizesand shapes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart by reading the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional device receivedin a shoe for retaining the shape of the shoe;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordancewith the present invention for retaining the shape of a shoe;

[0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the device for retaining the shapeof a shoe in accordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device for retaining theshape of a shoe;

[0015]FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the device for retainingthe shape of a shoe; and

[0016]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing abase member of the device cooperating with another shoe expansion memberfor retaining the shape of a shoe of different size or shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 2 and3, a device constructed in accordance with the present invention forretaining the shape of a shoe is designated with reference numeral 20.The device 20 comprises a base member 30 having a tapering configurationwith an arch cross section whereby the base member 30 has opposite sidewalls (not labeled) converging to each other and connected by anarcuated top wall 33. The cross-sectional area of the base member 30 isvariable and is gradually reduced from a rear end 32 to a front end 31.The opposite side walls of the base member 30 each form serration 34. Agroove (not labeled) is formed in the top wall 33 of the base member 30and is co-extensive therewith from the rear end 32 to the front end 31.A stair-like configuration comprised of a number of steps 35 is formedin the groove of the top wall 33.

[0018] The device 20 also comprises a shoe expansion member 40 having abottom (not labeled) in which a cavity 41 is formed and a top sideconfigured to closely fit into a shoe (not shown). The cavity 41 iscomplementary in shape to the base member 30 and is defined by oppositeside walls (not labeled) each defining serration 43 corresponding to theserration 34 of the corresponding side wall of the base member 30. Thecavity 41 is further defined by an arcuated top wall (not labeled)having a stair-like structure 42 formed thereon. The stair-likestructure 42 has a number of steps corresponding to the steps 35 of thebase member 30. The base member 30 is received in the cavity 41 of theshoe expansion member 40 with the stair-like structure 42 engaging withand supported by the steps 35 of the base member 30 (FIG. 5). Theserrations 34, 43 engage each other for securely fixing the shoeexpansion member 40 with respect to the base member 30 (FIG. 4).

[0019] Slits 44 are defined in the shoe expansion member 40 forproviding resiliency that allows the shoe expansion member 40 to be moreclosely fit into a shoe.

[0020] In accordance with the present invention, the number of steps ofthe stair-like structure 42 of the cavity 41 of the shoe expansionmember 40 can be the same as the number of the steps 35 of the basemember 30 whereby the stair-like structures 42, 35 completely engageeach other with the steps completely corresponding to each other asshown in FIG. 5. It is possible to have the numbers of steps of thestair-like top structures 42, 35 different from each other whereby thebase member 30 can be cooperating with shoe expansion members 40 oflarger and smaller sizes for shoes of larger and smaller sizes, as shownin FIG. 6.

[0021] The top side of the shoe expansion member 40 can be selectivelymade in different form to fit shoes of different shapes.

[0022] Thus, it is noted that by replacing the shoe expansion member 40with another one of different size and/or shape, the device 20 of thepresent invention can be selectively employed to retain the shapes ofshoes of different sizes and shapes. This significantly reduces thecosts of a shoe maker or shoe retailer in transporting and storingshoes.

[0023] Although the present invention has been described with referenceto the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled inthe art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention which is intended tobe defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for retaining shape of a shoecomprising: a base member having a tapering configuration with an archcross section having an arcuated top wall, a groove being defined in thetop wall with a stair-like configuration having a first number of stepsformed therein; and a shoe expansion member having a bottom defining acavity and a top having a configuration adapted to closely fit into ashoe for retaining a shape of the shoe, the cavity being defined byopposite side walls and an arcuated top wall corresponding to the crosssection of the base member, the top wall comprising a stair-likestructure having a second number of steps, the stair-like structure ofthe cavity being at least partially engageable with and supported by thestair-like configuration of the base member.
 2. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the base member has opposite side walls correspondingto the side walls of the cavity of the shoe expansion member, each sidewall of the base member defining first serration, each side wall of thecavity defining second serration, the first and second serrations beingengageable with each other for securely fixing the shoe expansion memberto the base member.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein theshoe expansion member defines slits therein for resilient deformation ofthe shoe expansion member.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1 furthercomprising an additional shoe expansion member having a different size,the additional shoe expansion member being replaceable with the shoeexpansion member, the additional shoe expansion member defining a cavityhaving a top wall comprising a stair-like structure, the stair-likestructure of the additional shoe expansion member having a third numberof steps, the third number being different from the second number. 5.The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an additional shoeexpansion member having a different shape adapted to retain a shape of adifferent shoe.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondnumber is identical to the first number.
 7. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the base member has a variable cross-sectional areagradually reduced from a rear end to a front end.